Sambirano Trekking Tour

Trekking tour along the Sambirano River from Ambanja to the first mountains of the Tsaratanana Massif in the northwest of Madagascar - 8 days/7 nights

Sambirano River upstream from Ambanja to Bemaneviky

Places of interest

Ambanja
Hotel Palma Nova
-13.677106, 48.447338

Benavony
-13.708580, 48.485444

Between Benavony and Ambolidimaka
-13.727995, 48.477661

Ambolidimaka
19,891 steps
-13.759026, 48.488541

Ambobaka
24,907 steps
over 14km from Ambanja (road)
medicinal plants (garden)
cascades
-13.751951, 48.517211

Ambodimanga Ramena
29,327 steps
-13.762863, 48.494389

Baba Hotel
33,397 steps

Antanamandririna
36,063 steps
-13.802136, 48.486542

Ambodifinesy
39,192 steps
-13.823035, 48.488794

Bemaneviky
42,850 steps
1st night (private room with only one bed, but clean) - 15,000 Ariary (2016)
-13.840417, 48.493690

Sambirano River upstream from Bemaneviky to Marotolana

Places of interest

leaving Bemaneviky
-13.839646, 48.492746

village
4,672 steps
-13.862293, 48.512691

Antanamazava
5,328 steps
after small river
-13.869145, 48.520247

Maevatanana
8,491 steps
-13.881228, 48.526334

Magnirenja
16,132 steps
-13.925395, 48.544866

Antsirasira
18,745 steps
-13.936202, 48.552659

Sambirano River crossing by foot
-13.931072, 48.566292

Marovato
29,305 steps
-13.947110, 48.554842

village
36,381 steps
-13.956808, 48.585729

landmark
-13.969334, 48.592278

Maromby
40,234 steps
-13.974896, 48.600630

Marotolana
2nd night at Madam Soanette (private room) - 15,000 Ariary (2016)
52,033 steps
-14.024824, 48.614506

Sambirano River upstream from Marotolana to Beangona

Places of interest

leaving Marotolana
-14.025795, 48.614203

hot - break - Michael goes for a swim
-14.041821, 48.641636

Mevadoany
-14.041058, 48.665912

15km to Tsaratanana National Park entrance
-14.047513, 48.676876

resting under the trees
-14.045584, 48.690404

wonderful swimming spot near Beangona with jacuzzi, mango trees and guava shrub
crocodiles downstream
20,191 steps
-14.051151, 48.702256

Beangona
3rd night in a small private hut (family of one of our teenager guides) - 10,000 Ariary (2016)
-14.052043, 48.703380

Trekking in the Tsaratanana Massif Day 1

Places of interest

leaving Beangona
-14.052043, 48.703380

village
3,231 steps
-14.070836, 48.704100

Aro ?
-14.064399, 48.704007

crossing field
-14.053963, 48.712017

crossing Sambirano River
-14.054450, 48.721464

breakfast under a huge mango tree next to a stream
rice, dried fish soup, instant noodles
-14.043681, 48.733054

lunch at Sambirano River
rice, dried fish soup
-14.056606, 48.755306

4th night - tent spot in a valley at Sambirano River
23,111 steps
dinner rice, fresh chicken
-14.053556, 48.756043

Trekking in the Tsaratanana Massif Day 2

Places of interest

leaving tent spot
breakfast rice, beans in tomato sauce
-14.053556, 48.756043

crossing Sambirano River
-14.052529, 48.754787

start trekking up a mountain
-14.053245, 48.754619

back at the Sambirano River
-14.049819, 48.745447

swimming in big natural swimming pool - guides refuse (due to crocodiles?)
-14.045908, 48.742015

crossing Sambirano River
-14.043134, 48.734650

crossing big field
-14.046274, 48.731823

Tsaratanana Park entrance sign
-14.048791, 48.729411

crossing Sambirano River
-14.054933, 48.721575

crossing Bangoy River? (Beangony River?)
-14.052740, 48.706565

end of walk
back in Beangona
5th night in a small private hut (family of one of our teenager guides) - 10,000 Ariary (2016)
13,764 steps
-14.052378, 48.704013

Sambirano River downstream from Beangona to Marotolana

Places of interest

leaving Beangona
-14.052043, 48.703380

crossing a mountain
-14.046367, 48.699929
-14.047826, 48.683509 -14.047692, 48.677153 -14.043280, 48.667511

arriving at village Mevadoany
-14.041536, 48.666240

Mevadoany
-14.040803, 48.665083

river crossing
near warm swimming pool (swam with kids, near Madame Soanette's village)
-14.036917, 48.633732

Marotolana
6th night at Madame Soanette (private room) - 15,000 Ariary (2016)
-14.024824, 48.614506

Sambirano River downstream from Marotolana to Bemaneviky

Places of interest

leaving Marotolana
-14.024824, 48.614506

wonderful walk early morning over mountain range - only small path
-14.023771, 48.610805

down at the foot of the mountain -13.996117, 48.581725

entering village Ambakoana
-13.987879, 48.578725

Ambakoana
village with Justin Bieber - very clean village!
11,778 steps
-13.986692, 48.577906

Mikotromihezova
15,850 steps
-13.970191, 48.560344

Marovato
chilled drinks in a clean bar/shop
19,813 steps
-13.947161, 48.55493

back directly at the Sambirano
-13.945015, 48.530292

Migioky
28,126 steps
-13.931427, 48.516704

Ambohimarina
entering village
-13.905521, 48.493524

old hospital or school after Ambohimarina (I think it's closed down)
-13.897999, 48.492937

Antanambao
Issouf's village
-13.892448, 48.484674

walking with Issouf through cocoa plantations till river crossing
-13.890571, 48.487365

crossing the Sambirano river
good bye to Issouf
-13.850604, 48.497682

Bemaneviky
7th night in private room - 15,000 Ariary (2016)
48,578 steps
-13.842023, 48.494395

Sambirano River downstream from Bemaneviky to Ambanja

Places of interest

leaving Bemaneviky
-13.841765, 48.493519

crossing Sambirano to continue on other side
-13.843128, 48.491201

Morafeno
4,055 steps
-13.848414, 48.473674

Mahatera
8,212 steps
-13.830021, 48.468502

Andranomandevy
11,604 steps
-13.810881, 48.471675

Manambaro
17,083 steps
-13.779991, 48.466484

crossing Sambirano
-13.758327, 48.462103

turn to the main road
-13.748395, 48.467470

back on main dirt road to Ambanja
-13.747754, 48.467743

Ambanja
Hotel Palma Nova
39,456 steps
-13.67707, 48.447309

Photos

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